Machine for loading feed-belts for machine-guns.



an. 660,244; Patented on. 23, i900. f I v J. menowume. IACHINE FOB LOADING FEED BELTS FOR MACHINE GUNS.

. (PM filed m {6, 1899; Y

4 Sheath-Shut L (Ila Iodnl.)

nun-m- Gmuc atnteu on. 23; I900; I

J. m. snow 6. IACHI'HE FUR LOADING FEED BEL FOR EAOHINEEUNS.

lumi s99. V

(Application M 4 Shanta-Shoot 2, I

V Miami-mag. v 1 '1 J. m. snowman.

EAUHINE FOR LEADING FEED BELTS ADHINE GUNS.

(Io Idol.)-

Patentedflt. 23, I900.

4 shun-shin 3.

J. in. snownma. QABHINE-FGB LOADRG FEED BELTS F08 DHAGHINE GUNS.

5mm mod a. as, am,

(lo Modal.)

4 Sheen-Shoot 4.

Patented Oct. 23, 19-00.

afterinthe improved machine the belt is .JOHN M.

show ime, 0F OGDEN, UTAH. 7

MACHINE .FoR'LoAomd reeo saur-s roe 'MAcHmE-eunsfsrscmosnon forming part of Letters Batent no. 660,244, ame ottom- 2a, 1900. l j

Appliostion tiled Hovember 15,1899. su'm Ho. vetoes. We model.)

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Jens M. BROWNING, a citizen of the United Sta es, residing in Ogden, county of. Weber, State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improve-. merits in Machines for Loading Feed-Belts for Machine-Guns, the, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.-

The object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for inserting cartridges in feed-belts by which the cartridges are 'sub sequently fedto machine-guns. It is desirable that such feed-belts should be light in weight, flexible, capabie of holding the cartridges close together, and inekpensire. The possession of these qualities renders it nec-, essary to avoid the use of beaded edges and of metallic strips between e pockets, and hitherto no satisfactory mechanical devices have been provided for opening or holding open the pockets in such belts for the insertion of'the cartridges or for holding the belts during the insertion of the cartridges, it being understood that in such belts the pockets for the reception of the cartridges are formed between two layers or plies of fabric united between the pockets and are transver'sely disposed with respect to the belt. V By the present invention, however, provision is made for openingeach pocket and holding it open for the insertion of the erd of the cartridge by means which engage thefabric externally, whereby it becomes unnecessaryito clamp the belt at such time, as is the case when-anopener is forced into the pocket, and whereby also each pocketis certainly openedat the" proper time and cannot close beforethe cartridge is introduced. There* firmly held while the cartridge is pushed into it to the desired extent. These mechanical devices'and. others which it may be found ad- Vaintageous to combine therewith in practice will be fully describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which for. purposes of illustration and explanation of the nature of the invention they are illustrated as embodied in convenient and practical terms and as combined in a sin- -line 5 5 of Fig.1.

gle machine which performs all of the nodes sary operations of loading the belts.

- f UNITED STATE PATENT In the drawings, Figure 1 isa plan viewof such a'maehine with its parts in theirinitial end elevation of the same. Fig. 3' is a plan view with the cartridge-feeding guide or hop- 'per removed, the parts being represented. in

the positions which they assume when the driving-shaft has beenrotated one hundred and eighty degrees from the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig.4 is a section on the plane indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a section on the plane indicated by the Fig. 6 is a similar view, but with the parts in the positions indicated in Fig. 3. Fig.7 is a detail rear elevation. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a front elevation and a reanelevation of the opener detached. Fig. 10 is a sect-ion on the plane indicated by the line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Figs. 11 and 12 are plan and edge views of a portion of an unloaded belt. Figs. l3 and 14 are similar views of a partly-loaded bell, the cartridges being indicated by dottedlines.

In the maehineshown in the drawings the i 8o several working parts are supported upon a suitable bed-plate A, which can be secured wherever-con venient for the operational the machine. In suitable bearings on the bedplate is mounted a short shaft B, which may be operated by any convenient means,a crankhandle 13 being indicated. The several working parts of the machine are operated either. directly or indirectly item the shaft B, as will be described hereinafter. Thebelt or" band to be filled (shown particularly in'Figs 11, 12, 13, and 14) ispreferably a woven belt or band. having two'plies, which are united transversely at. regular intervals, the pockets for the reception of the cartridges being .formed between the two plies and separated from one another by the lines of union of the two plies. It is obvious, as clearly shown in the said figures of the drawings, that such-a belt will be taken up somewhat both in width and in length by the insertion of the cartridges in the pockets. The belt is delivered through a guide 'A', in which it may be held '5 ien't manner.

50 feed-wheel.

.by a pivoted cap or covera; the belt 0. 1 passing freely through such guide. The car tridges to be inserted in the belt or band may he delivered to the machine in any conven There is shown at A in the drawings a guide 'or'feefl chute, which is so cnrcd'npon the bed plate above some oi the f working'parts of the machine-end in which the cartridges are heldone above another for :o delivery'to the devices,' which insert them one b'y'one in the belt. 3 n 1 The belt-feeding devices, whicl engage the filled portion of the b'elt,willfirst be described.

These comprise two fluted wheel sO and the ilutingsbeing suitably toothed or roughened, as indicated at c, that they'mey engage the belt and holdit as each cartridge is being pushed home. These feed-wheel's receive a-step-by-step motion, thelowe'r wheel being an engaged by a pawl 0 which is loosely piv oted upon the bed-plate A and is actuated by an eccentric C on the shaft B, the pawl and the eccentric'strap or fork being conveniently formed in one piece. The pawl is loosely g5 pivoted, as above stated, so that it may have some lateral playin order to permit the end 'whichf engages the fluted wheel. to pass over the ridges between the timings in one direction, a spring 0 bearing against the pawl to insure its proper engagement with the feedwheel when moving in the opposite direction.

The feedwheel C is by the pawl 0 brought to the exact position at each-operation and there. held by a blade-spring O, which en- 5 gages'the underside of the feed-wheel and preventsits movementin either direction.

The right-hand edge. of the spring C is V slightly upturned, its at c, to engage the rear side of'the ridge which has just passed it,

40 thus positively preventing backward move" ment of the feed-wheel, while the upward pressure of the spring 0 is exerted against the next ridge in a vertical plane considerably to the left side of that through the axis 5 of the feed-wheel, thereby forcing the right- 3 hand ridge against the edge of the spring a p and preventing forward rotation of the feed- The npperfeedovheel C is in the' na'-,

wheel. ture of a presser to cooperate with the lower or nrmC so thatit may be swung toward or from the lower feedqvheel, such crane hm; mg .a shonlderc to engages correspondinr': stop on the bed-plate, so that the upper feed'gheel cannot at any time come in contact withthe lower feed-whcel or press too hardmpon the cartridge which zit-the time may be in the belt between'the twowheels; At the same time in order that the wheel 0 may be held .yieldingly tdward the wheel 0 aspring C is .extcndcdfrom the pivoted rigid are. (1 and I, is engaged by asuitable latch'cfl-cirried by the bed-plate.

As indicated hereinhefore, the opener, the

function of which is to open each pocket pro vious to the introduction of the cartridge is arranged to operate externally as distin It is carried by a pivoted crane 'guishedfrofrn the operation oi an opener .which is thrust into the pocket. It will be has been chosen for illustration in the draw-fings, however, the opener is arranged to ent gage both side walls of each pocket to pull them fmm' acentral line, and the opener is arranged to be operated by the forward movement of each cartridge as it is advanced for insertion into the pocket. As shown most clearly in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 of the drawin gs, this form of opener comprises a carrier D, which is arranged to slide on the edge of the guideway .A, being loosely mounted thereon, and two jaws or arms I), which are ivoted to the carrier on opposite sides ofih plane of the belt or band-as it pwes over the guide A. Each arm or jaw is 'piovided with a point or needle (I, which is extended for wardly toward the belt in a position to enter 'or engage but not to penetrate the 'correspending pocket-wall of the belt or band as the carrier moves forward. The-rear end of each arm or jaw is extended to form a toe d" for the bearing of a spring D, the function of which is to hold the points toward other with a. yielding pressure andis not to impel the opener'forward, the spring being carried by the arm which effects the to-andfro movement. Upon the rearjaces of the two'arms' or jaws, near their forward ends and at their proximate edges, the two arms or-jaws are chamfered or milledont, as at (1',

rue

to form a cam-like surface on QllClk-SO that as the cartridge is thrust forward, as herein-' after described, its end will engage the osmlike surfaces and will thrnst'the two arms or jaws apart. The walls of the pocket being at the time engaged by such arms or jaws, the pocket will. be opened lnreadiness-for the introduction of the cartridge as. its forward movement is continued; -'I"'n'e ce'rnsnrfaces are preferably somewhat conical, as they will thereby serve to center the end 01 the cartridgeas it is thrust forward, insuring itsproper alinement with the pocket. To effect the to-und-fro motion of the opener, a bell-crank lever B is mounted upon the bed-plate A, one arm engaging the carrier D,

while the other'e'ngages a cam D on the'shaft- B. -A spring Dialso mounted on tl16'b8d-.,

plate, cofiperat'eswith one arm of thebellcrank lever I) to hold I the lever lnxoontact with the cam and to draw the opener back, the forward movement of the opener being efiecled-by the foam. The springbfl'above referred to,.is secured to the lev er'Di, and

therefore has no influence upon the to-andger E is employed for the purpose, such plun-,

g'er being mounted and suitably guided on the bed-plate A and being connected by a or pitmau E with a crank-pin E carried at the inne're'ud of Y the shaft 13. The plunger is arranged toinse'rt one. cartridge part way into the pocket just opened at the same time that it thrusts home the cartridge which was previously inserted part way and which is then in the belt in the grasp of the wheels 0 C. For this purpose the plunger is formed in rear of its head 2 with a lateral shoulder e, which is adapted to engage the head of the second cartridge. The side of the plun-- ger between the heade and the shoulder e is grooved to assist incentering and holding the second cartridge before its point engages the belt. The plungeris also formed with two shoulders e 6 for 'a purpose to be descri led presently. .Asalready described, the cartridge guide orjeed chute A? is mounted upon the bed-plate A, but with sufficient clearance for the working parts beneath it. Immediately below the cartridge-feed chute an arm F is pivoted upon the bed-plate A, being arranged to swing back from the line of the chute far enough to allow a cartridge to drop down in front of it and then toswing forward to carry such cartridge into position to be engaged by the shoulder c of the-plunger E, the frontside of the arm beinggrooved longitudinally to'cooperate with the corre- 1) above referred to. In the rearward movearm forward smartly. In like-manner thementof the plunger E the shohlder e? thereof strikes the tocfof the arm F and carries the toe f past the spring D, so that it then acts.

upon the othcr.side of the toe f to throw the shoulder e at the end of' the forward movemeat of the plunger forces the point of the tnef' past the spring in the opposite direclion, so that the spring throws the arm back smartly into position to permit another car-- tridge to drop down from the feed-chute. It will be seen that the arm furnishes a guide for the cartridge as it is driven iorward by,

the shoulder a, of the plunger E.. In order that oachc'artridge, notwithstanding the relarely-smaller diameter of the bullet as cornpared with the head of the cartridge, may he properly suppom-Al beneath the mouth of the iced-chute and properly directed into the opening pocket, and particularly that it may mediately followed be. properly gag between the groovedportions of the plu ger and the arm. astep a is formed upon the bed-plate, which serves to lift the bullet end of the cartridge to the own of cartridges in the feed'-chnte from interfering with'tho movement of: the cartridges beneath the chute. Furthermore, since the proper heighhsnd thus to prevent theoob cartridge is less likely to get into a'wrong' po'-- ,sitio'n if itis thrown forwardby the arm and immediately followed by the arm a. springseated frictionrplunger a, 01 ordinary con struction, is located. in. the bed-platwprefenably in the step a, and serves to.,-hold-. the cartridge until it is thrown. forward and-imthe cartridge passes over it.

1b the operation of the machine described "herein two cartridges are first placed. in the belt by hand and then, with the working parts'of. the machine in thepositious'ludbx cated in Figs. 1, 2, and 5 of the drawings, the

' upper feed-wheel C is released and raised,

the first cartridge is placed in the uppermost: fluting of the feed-wheel C, the feed-wheel C lis returned to position and secured ,by the latch, and the machine is started, it being premised that cartridges. are supplied to'the cartridge-chute and that the belt is properly placed in the belt-guidc. During the first half of the rotation of theshaft the pawl G is'actuated to advance the feedwheels'one step, thereby drawing the'belt forwa-rd to bring the first empty pocket into position to receive a cartridge. At the same time the plunger E is drawn back, causing the arm F to throw the iowermost cartridge against the j plunger, with its head just in advance of the shoulder c. rotation of the shaft the cam D moves the During the second half of the opener forward, causing its points to engage the opposite walls of the first empty pocket.

Meanwhile the plunger E moves forward, so that as soon as the walls of the pocket have been fairly engaged by the opener the end of thecartridge' will be brought-against the-f chanifered portions of the opener-jaws and; 1 will cause the jaws to open, thereby also sep- :arating the walls of the pocket. nod-forward movement of the plunger pushes the cartridge forward into the pocket far The continfairlyintroduced into the pocket. "The'rotation of the shaft being now completed and continued, the operations of the machine arerepeated as before,except that the cartridge.

which was first partly introduced is brought into line with the plungerE between'the two I feed-wheels and atthe next forward IIIOYO? ment of the plunger is pnshedhome, the belt being held. by the teeth or'corrugations'ol the flutings. I A. guide-plate a. is secured to the bed;plate A at its edge marine-the belt,

with the cartridge, si ghtlyas they pass over it and prevent them from dragging down and moving outef re er -ition as the leave the feed-wheel? p gob y 5 It will-now be clear that various changes can be made in the details of construction and arrangement and that the invention is ot to be limited to the precise form and-combination of parts shown anddescribed herein.

to I claim as my invention- '1. In a machine for ldading pocketed belts, an openeradapted to engage the pocket-wall "and means to move said opener away from the plane'of'the belt; v

z 5 In a machine for loading pocketed belts, an arm or jaw having a point to engage the poci-tet wall'and means to move said arm or jaw away from the plane of the belt.

i 3. ins machine for loading pocketed belts,

2o a. carrier, an arm or jaw mounted on said carfrier'and adapted to'engage the pocket-wall, means to move the carrier to and fro and means to move said arm or. jaw away from the planeof the belt. j 1 25 t. In a machine for-loading pocketed belts, the combination of a bait-guide, a carrier mounted in proximity to said guide, means to move said carrier toand fro, an arm orjawmounted on said carrier and having a point 30 to engage the pocket-wall, and means to move gaild-arm or jaw away from thepl'ane of the e t. i i

5, In a machine fox-loading pocketed belts, the combination of a beltguide, a carrier 5 mounted-in proximity to said guide, arms-or jaws mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of the plane of the guides and adapted to engage the opposite pocket walls, and

means to separate said arms or jaws.

' 0 6. In a machine for loading pocketed belts,

the combination of n belt-guide, a carrier monnted in proximity 20 said guide, means to move said carrier to and fro,-arms or jaws pivoted upon saidcarrier and having each, a 5 point projecting forwardly and toward the plane of the guide,a spring acting upon saidarms or jaws to press said points yieldingly toward each other, and means to separate said arms or jaw: o 7. In a machine for loading pocketed belts,

f the combination of an opener adapted to engage the pocket-wall, and means to press a cartridge forward in line with the pocket and againstthe opener to move the same from I 5 the plane of the belt.

8. In a machine for loading pocketed belts,

,the combination of an arm or jawha ving a --point to engage the pocket-wall and means to press a cartridge forward in line with the 60 pocket and'against the arm orjaw to move thesame from the plane of the belt; I

9: :In a machincior loading pocketed belts, the, combination of a carrier, an arm or jaw .monnted onsaid carrier. andadapted teen-r o5 gage the pocket-wall, means'tc move the carrier to and fro, and means to press a cartridge forward in line with the pocket and against the opener to move the same from the plane mounted in proximity to said guide, arms or jaws mounted on said carrier on opposite sides of the plane of the guide and adapted to engage the opposite pocket-walls, and

means;- to press a cartridge'forward in lino with the pocket and against said arms or jaws to separate them.

11. n a machine for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a tinted feed-wheel, means to actuate the same, a second fluted feed-- wheel, and means to press the last-named wheel yieldingly 'toward the first-named Wheel. v r 4 I '-'J' 12. Ina machine-for loading pocketed belts, the combination of a dated feed-wheel, means .to actuate the same, a second fluted icedwheel, a pivoted, rigid arm carrying said lastnamed wheel and having a stop to limit the movement of the last-named wheel toward the first-named wheel, and means to hold the last-named wheel toward the first-named wheel. 4

13, In a machine fol-loading pocketed belts,- the combination of a fluted feed-wheel, means to actuate the same, a second fluted feedwheel, a pivoted, rigid-arm carrying said. lastnamed wheel and having a stop to limit the movement of the last-named wheel towardthe firstnamed wheel, a spring extension from said. arm, and a latchto engage said spring extension. 7 v

14. In a machine fol-loading pocketed belts, the combination of a fluted feedwh'eel, an actasting-pawl adapted to engage the ridges be tween the flntings, and a fiatspring engaging the ridges of the wheel with its edge in rear of oneof such ridges.'

15. In a machinefor loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination with a pocket-opener;- and means to hold the belt while the cartridge is thrust home, of scartridge-feeding mechanism having ahead or vshoulder in line with the opened pocket to insort the cartridge and a he'ador shoulder in line with the belt-holding means to thrust the cartridge home; p i

16. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination with a pocket-opener, and means to hold the belt while the cartridge is thrust home, of a reciprocating plunger having a head or shoulder in line with the opening pocket and a head or 'shoulderin advance of the first-named head or shoulder and in line with thebelb holding means.

17. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination with means for-holding the belt, of a cartridge-feeding mechanism having a head or shoulder-to insort the cartridge into a pocket and asecond head or shoulder in advance oLthe first-named head or shoulder and in line with the next pocket to thrust the cartridge home. v

ger havinga head or shoulder in line with one adapted to engage the pocket wall, and a recart-ridge forward horizontally in the direc zontal bed platc, anda cartridgechute above- I the bed-plate and adapted to receive the carto operate said arm,'and a reciprocating plain- 18. In a machine forloadicg pecketed belts with cartridges, the combination with means for holding the belt, of a reciprocating plu spocket and a head or shoulder in advance oi. the first-named head or shoulder and in line with the next pocket,

19. In a machine forloading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination of fluted, belt feeding and holdingwhcels, means to advance said wheels step by step, an opener ciprocating plunger'havinga head or shoulder to thrust a cartridge against the opener to move the same away from the plane of the belt and to insert the cartridge in the opened pocket, said plunger havingalso a head or shoulder in line with the bolt feeding and holding wheels to thrust the cartridge home.

20. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, thecombination with means for holding the belt, of a reciprocating plum gmhavinga head or shoulder in line withone pocket and a head or shoulder in advance of the first-named head or shoulder and in line with the next pocket, said plunger-being longitudinally grooved bet-ween said heads or shoulders to receive the'cartridge, and means to press the cartridge against said grooved portion of the plunger. 21. In a machine for-loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination with a horizontal bed-plate, and a cartridge-chute abore thehed-plate andadapted to receive the cartridges horizontally, one upon another, said chute havingsuflicicnt clearance above the bed-plat e to permitthe passage of a cartridge in a horizontal position,ofan arm pivoted upon the bed-plate to swing across the men th of the chute in contact with a cartridge, means to operate said arm, and means to push the lion of its length.

22. In a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination with ahori-- tridges horizontallgpne upon another, said chute having sufficientclearance above the bed-plate to permit the passage of'a cartridge in a horizontal posit-ion, of an arm pivoted upon the bed-plate to swing across thenLout-h of the chute in contact with a. cartridge, means ger to push the cartridge forward horizon tally in the direction of its. iongth.

23. In a machine for loading poekct'od belts with cartridges, the combination of a rcciprocating plunger, a horizontal bed-plate. a.

another said chute having a sufiige chute above ,the bcd'--plate and; ad api'e d to receive the ca rtrid ges horlzoutal 1y, .one upon cicnt clearance above the bed-plate to permit I the passage ci a cartridge in a horizontal position, an arm pivoted upon the bed-plateto swing across the mouth of the chute in conmet with a cartridge, saidarm havinga 1011-,

gitudinalgroovetocenter the cartridge, and

in'eanstgo operate said arm to transfer the cartridge from the chute to the path'of said plunger.

24. In .a machine for loading pocketed belts with cartridges, the combination of a horizontal bed-plate, a reciprocating plunger, 3 t

cartridge-elm 'te monn ted above the bed-plate and adapted to recehe the cartridges horizontally, one upon another, an arm pivoted upon the bed-plate to swing between" the bed-plate and the chute across the mouth of v the chute, andopcrsti've ccnnections between said plunger and said arm mcauset-hc latter to transfer the cartridge from the chute to the path of the plunger.

25. In a machine for loading pocketedbelts 'with cartridges, the combination ,of anew plate, areciprocating plunger, a cartridgechute mounted upon the bed-plateanarm mounted to move bet-ween the bed-plate and sneans'to operate said arm to transfer the the chute across the month of the chute, 2

cartridge. from the chute to the path of the plunger, and a frictionstop in the bed-plate in the path of the cartridge.

26'. In amachineof the character described, the combination of areciprocating plunger, a cartridge-chute, and a pivotedarm mounted to move across the mouth of said chute to transfer the cartridge from the chute to the path of the plunger, said arm having a toe engaged by a shoulder or projection on the plunger to be operated thereby.

- 27. In a machine of the character-described,

the combination of a reciprocating plunger,

acartridge-chute, a pivoted arm mounted to,

move across the mouth of said chute to transfer the cartridge from the chute to the path of the plunger, said arm having a. toeengaged.

by a shoulder or projection on the plunger tobe operated thereby and having a sworn] toe, and a spring adapted to engage said second toe on'one side and on the other as the arm is moved.

Thisspe'cification signed and witnessed tbi 26th day of Uctober, A. l). 1899.

' JOHN M. BROWNING. In presence of- .Ions E. Rxmsnnx J Zrrzuanl ire; 

